Mold is the original recycler. The main job of mold in nature is
to assist in the break down decaying organic materials to return nutrients to
the soil. The cellular structure of large, connected colonies of mold, called
hyphae or hyphal networks, allow the sharing and transfer of water across the
entire network. Thus, another evolutionary job that evolved for mold is the
existence of mycorrhizal networks, which are symbiotic relationships that exist
between mold colonies and the roots of certain types of trees.
The Inner Workings of Mold
The trees utilize the enlarged surface area and permeability of
hyphal networks, and in exchange for access to carbohydrate resources provided
by the roots of trees. – if there were a leaking pipe in the structure as we
often see in our mold remediation work, the mold closest to the pipe would be
able to transfer water, food and other nutrients to each other through the
hyphal networks created by the complex mycorrhizal fungal networks linking
fungi together. This ability originates in forests as a symbiotic relationships
between certain types of trees and fungi, allowing the trees to collectively
share water and other nutrients with each other through fungal growths
connecting trees’ root networks within a certain proximity.
Understanding the existence of mycorrhizal networks is important
in case you ever find yourself in a situation where wood or carpet in your home
feels damp during times of exterior rain, even without any spills or leaks. The
connected network of mold colonies means that water and nutrients can be shared
across the entire collection of mold colonies, thus allowing you another way to
detect the presence of mold in your home.
If you are concerned about mold growth, contact our mold
remediation and mold testing company, headquartered in Massachusetts, to have a licensed and
certified mold inspector perform mold testing services to give you the
certainty you are looking for.
